J.A.F.E.
Well-known member
There has been some interest in Par-X lately so I will contibute what I know. It was explained to me by the dealer I bought the set shown from that Par-X was a low cost line manufactured by SO.
Bluepoint was as separate line and as I recall there was not much, if any, overlap between SO and BP or Par-X and BP.
I don't recall seeing the Par-X line in the catalogs at that time (which I could choke myself for thowing away - with the price lists
).
They were made from at least 1959 as I have a UR 71 (1/2) with a 59 date code, which are the same as SO.
I bought the set off the truck about 1978 so they were available at least until the late 70's. At the time the dealer told me they had a lifetime warranty but if they needed to be replaced with SO I'd have to pay the difference. It came with two extensions (2 and 6) 3/16 -1/2 6 point sockets and a yellow plastic handled driver in the old SO style (clear plastic square with rounded corners). The set came in a red/white cardboard box which, unfortunately, I no longer have. None of these pieces are date coded. Yes, that is grease inside the sockets they do get used
.
The machining in the head and the guts are taken from the SO line of the era. Here is the Par-X UR7 with a TM 70 B (1970) and a TM711 (no date code but it was bought new about 6 mos later).
In this image the bottom plates look identical. I will show they are in fact interchangeable.
Here is a closeup showing the machining and the piece parts. the retaining screws are all identical but the photo I took was too blurry to post.
Here is the bottom plate from the UR7 in the TM 70 B and the TM711. I tried all three plates in all the ratchets and they fit correctly. The gears interchanged and I was able to cross assemble all the parts.
Here is a closeup of all the parts showing the sides of the gears - all are 20 tooth.
They all got the RLL treatment before I assembled them for the last time.
I will post some other Par-X items if there is interest
The individual part numbers of the set, if anyone is interested:
Ratchet UR7
Spinner UP 4
2" extension UE2
6" extension UE 6
1/2 socket UH 16
7/16 socket UH 14
3/8 socket UH 12
11/32 socket UH 11
5/16 socket UH 10
9/32 socket UH 9
1/4 socket UH8
7/32 socket UH7
3/16 socket UH6
All are marked USA
Bluepoint was as separate line and as I recall there was not much, if any, overlap between SO and BP or Par-X and BP.
I don't recall seeing the Par-X line in the catalogs at that time (which I could choke myself for thowing away - with the price lists
). They were made from at least 1959 as I have a UR 71 (1/2) with a 59 date code, which are the same as SO.
I bought the set off the truck about 1978 so they were available at least until the late 70's. At the time the dealer told me they had a lifetime warranty but if they needed to be replaced with SO I'd have to pay the difference. It came with two extensions (2 and 6) 3/16 -1/2 6 point sockets and a yellow plastic handled driver in the old SO style (clear plastic square with rounded corners). The set came in a red/white cardboard box which, unfortunately, I no longer have. None of these pieces are date coded. Yes, that is grease inside the sockets they do get used
.
The machining in the head and the guts are taken from the SO line of the era. Here is the Par-X UR7 with a TM 70 B (1970) and a TM711 (no date code but it was bought new about 6 mos later).
In this image the bottom plates look identical. I will show they are in fact interchangeable.
Here is a closeup showing the machining and the piece parts. the retaining screws are all identical but the photo I took was too blurry to post.
Here is the bottom plate from the UR7 in the TM 70 B and the TM711. I tried all three plates in all the ratchets and they fit correctly. The gears interchanged and I was able to cross assemble all the parts.
Here is a closeup of all the parts showing the sides of the gears - all are 20 tooth.
They all got the RLL treatment before I assembled them for the last time.
I will post some other Par-X items if there is interest
The individual part numbers of the set, if anyone is interested:
Ratchet UR7
Spinner UP 4
2" extension UE2
6" extension UE 6
1/2 socket UH 16
7/16 socket UH 14
3/8 socket UH 12
11/32 socket UH 11
5/16 socket UH 10
9/32 socket UH 9
1/4 socket UH8
7/32 socket UH7
3/16 socket UH6
All are marked USA
Last edited:
That's what the box looked like only of course much smaller. It also didn't have the tray just the pieces rattling around loose inside. I remember seeing the photo in another thread but wouldn't have known where to get it.
